Power tong crane



J. DICKMANN ETAL 3,505,913

April 14,1910

POWER TONGCRANE Filed Dec. 4.. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORE. JOHN Z. D/C/L MA/V/V GAETH 1 N/LQLSOA/ ,4 7 7UE/VEV April 14,1970 J. L. DICKMANN ET AL v 3,505,913

POWER TONG CRANE Filed Dec. 4, 1967 3 Sheets- Sheet 3 INVENTORS. JOHA/ D/CKMA/V/V I /jwmwa/v /7 I g m I i 1 V l A7, I 4 1 A TTOEA/(EV United States Patent 3,505,913 POWER TONG CRANE John L. Dickmann, Whittier, and Garth F. Nicolson, Huntington Beach, Calif., assignors to Byron Jackson Inc., Long Beach, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 687,812 Int. Cl. B25b 1 3/ 50, 29/00 US. Cl. 81-5735 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to power pipe tongs, and more particularly to power pipe tongs useful in the making up and breaking out of joints of well pipe, such as drill pipe or casing, as the same is being run into or pulled from a well bore.

In the use of power pipe tongs in the running and pulling of well pipe such as drill pipe or casing, particularly in the event that the pipe-handling derrick equipment may be operated automatically or remotely, it is often desirable that the power tong mechanism used to make up and break out pipe joints be supported so as to be readily movable horizontally as well as vertically between working and non-working positions. Therefore, various support structures have heretofore been employed; including cables and hoists, as well as fluid-pressure operated cylinders which are adapted to elevate and lower the tong assembly, as may be necessary to allow pipe to be speared into the pipe already in the well bore, or to allow pipe already in the well bore to be engaged by an elevator so as to be pulled therefrom. Periodically, moreover, it is necessary that the tong be shifted horizontally between a working position at which the tong head overlies the well bore, and a non-working position at which the tong assembly is off to one side of the well bore enabling the performance of other operations without interference from the tong assembly.

Generally the power tong assemblies are quite massive and it is therefore desirable that they be supported so as to not only facilitate manipulation of the tong assembly, but also to reduce strain on the supporting structures for the tong assembly.

SUMMARY Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a tong-supporting crane structure which is of rigid construction, capable of supporting a tong assembly in a suitable manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tongsupporting crane structure operable to suspend the tong assembly in a working position with the tong head overlying the well bore and at different elevations, namely, a first elevation at which an elevator may engage a length of pipe disposed in the well bore so as to remove the same from the well bore, and a second elevation at which the tong head may be operated to grip and rotate a length of pipe suspended in the derrick so as to either make up or break out the joint between such stand of pipe and a length of pipe disposed in the well bore.

3,505,913 Patented Apr. 14, 1970 Still another object is to provide a tong-supporting crane structure which may be readily operated to move the tong assembly vertically or horizontally between working and non-working positions, and wherein the tong assembly is at all times supported substantially at its center of balance. In accomplishing this objective a tong-supporting structure is provided wherein the tong is pivotally supported upon a slide movable vertically on a post, and adjustable cables are connected to the slide and to an outwardy extended portion of the tong assembly, and both of said cables may be simultaneously operated to raise and lower the tong assembly. Moreover, the tong assembly may be swung horizontally to a position remote from the well bore to allow the conduct of other operations at the well bore.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described or will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the novel features of the invention will be defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating a power tong assembly supported above a drilling rig floor by a crane assembly made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in end elevation showing the crane structure and its support beneath the platform floor;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, as taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail view in section, as taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detail view in section, as taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4;

. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in vertical section with certain of the parts shown in elevation, as taken on the line 77 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a view in horizontal section, as taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detail vie-w in horizontal section, as taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, as taken on the line 10.-10 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIGSS. 1 and 2, there is generally illustrated a tong assembly T adapted to be supported above the floor F of a drilling platform which may be part of the usual drilling rig mounted above a well bore and into which pipe, such as drill pipe or casing, is adapted to be run and from which such pipe will be some times pulled, as in the case of drill pipe. Such a pipe is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as including an upper stand of pipe P1 in the illustrative form of a stand of drill pipe having a tool joint pin end 1 thereon adapted to be threadedly connected by the tong T to the box end 2 of a length or stand of the pipe P2 disposed in the well bore. In order to support the tong assembly T in an operative position above the well bore so that the stand of pipe P1 may be lowered therethrough for engagement with the pipe P2, a crane C made in accordance with the present invention is provided, including a boom 3 projecting from a vertically disposed post 4. A cable 5 connected to a support framework 5a which is in turn connected to the tong T, extends over sheaves 6, 6 and is connected to a pressure operated cylinder mechanism 7 disposed within the post 4, whereby the tong assembly T may be raised and lowered relatively to the post 4 and thereby relative to the well bore into which or from which pipe is being removed. Also forming a part of the crane C is a slide support 8 shiftable vertically along the post 4, there being a second cable 9 also connected to the upper end of cylinder 7, extending over sheaves 10, and connected also to the slide support 8 so that the mass of the tong assembly may be properly supported.

The tong assembly, as is typical of tongs of the type here involved, includes a head section generally denoted at 11 and a supporting and power transmission section generally denoted at 12. The latter section in the illustrative embodiment has a hydraulic motor 13 adapted to be connected to a suitable source of motive fluid under pressure so as to drive the transmission mechanism of the tong assembly, which may be of any desired type, but which may preferably be constructed in accordance with the disclosure in the application for United States Letters Patent filed concurrently herewith and entitled Power Pipe Tong Transmission Assembly, Ser. No. 687,815 filed Dec. 4, 1967.

The tong head section 11 may be of any desired construction adapted to grip and rotate the tool joint 1 of the pine P1. Illustratively, the tong head may be constructed in accordance with the disclosure in the application for United States Letters Patent filed concurrently herewith and entitled Pipe Tong Head, Ser. No. 687,830 filed Dec. 4, 1967.

In order to make or break the joint, the tong head is operated at least to initially break out or finally make up the joint while the box end 2 of the pipe P2 is held nonrotatively in a back-up tong generally denoted at B. This. back-up tong may be of any desired construction, but is preferably made in accordance with the disclosure in the application for United States Letters Patent filed concurrently herewith and entitled Back-Up Tong for Power Pipe Tongs, Ser. No. 687,810 filed Dec.4, 1967.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 7 and 10, it will be noted that, in the present embodiment, the post 4 is in the form of a tubular member which extends downwardly into a socket generally denoted at 14 provided in the rig floor F. More particularly, the socket comprises a tubular housing 15 seating upon a base 16 which is mounted on or formed as part of a subfioor 17. Above the floor F the tubular member 15 is provided with an enlarged reinforcing flange 18, on which is disposed a bushing 19. The post 4 is provided with an outstanding flange extending circumferentially thereabout which rests upon the bushing 19 so as to rotatably support the post 4 in the socket 14.

As previously indicated, the post 4 and the boom 3 projecting therefrom are adapted to suspend the tong assembly T in different horizontally spaced positions. Therefore, the flange 20 is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced notches 21 adapted to receive a spring loaded detent 22, this detent 22 being slidably supported in an opening 23 provided in a detent support 24, this support 24 being fastened to the flange 18 forming a part of the socket 14 as previously described. The two locations of angular adjustment of the post 4 represented by the notches 21 are: first, the location shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at which the tong head 11 would be supported above a well bore for making up and breaking out pipe joints and second, a position at which the tong assembly has been swung off to an out of the way position, allowing other operations at the well bore. From time to time it may be necessary or desirable to secure the post 4 and boom 3, and therefore the tong, in some other angular position than the fixed positions provided for by the notches 21. Therefore, as best seen in FIG. 6, a brake is provided in the form of a clamping foot 25 having a toe 26 engaged beneath a flange 27 on the bushing 19, the foot having a stem 28 extending through the flange 20 and engaged by a nut 29, whereby a clamping force may be developed to grip the flange 27 between the toe 26 and the flange 20 at various other angular positions of the boom and tong relative to the well bore.

The slide 8, by which the tong assembly T is supported,

is best illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 as comprising a pair of fabricated body sections 30 and 31, each having an arcuate, vertically extended inner wall 32 as well as upper annular walls 33 and lower annular walls 34. Between the upper and lower walls 33 and 34 each of the slide sections is provided with a vertically extended wall 35, so that when the sections are disposed about the post 4 the walls 35 will be in opposed parallel relation. The body sections 30 and 31 are joined together about the post 4 by bolts 36, a pair of which extend horizontally between the opposing walls 35 at the opposite sides of the assembled slide, rollers 37 being provided on the bolts 36 so as to support the slide 8 against angular cocking relative to the post 4 in one direction. These rollers 37 engage the vertically extended outer faces of two channel members 38, one of which extends along each of the diametrically opposing sides of the post 4. Above the upper wall 33 and below the lower wall 34 of each of the slide body sections 30 and 31 is an ear 39 supported by a gusset 40. Each of the ears 39 supports a pair of rollers 41, so that when the body sections 30, 31 are assembled about the post 4 upper and lower sets of the rollers 41 engage the side walls of the channels 38 to prevent cocking of the slide 8 in the other direction at right angles to the direction in which the slide is supported by the rollers 37.

The cable 9 which, as previously described, is connected to the slide 8 may be connected thereto as by shackle means 42. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, a pair of brackets 43 is disposed between the opposing walls 35 adjacent the tong assembly T, and these brackets 43 support a pivot pin 44 on which is loosely disposed one end of a link 45, the other end of which is loosely disposed upon a pivot pin 46. This pin 46 extends through a pair of brackets 47 projecting from the side of the case of the power tong assembly and, more particularly, from the case of the transmission section 12 of the assembly. Thus, the tong assembly T is supported for slight universal movement as may be required from time to time to adjust the position of the tong assembly relative to a pipe joint 1, or so as to allow slight tilting of the tong assembly when the threaded joint parts 1 and 2 are being spun, an operation which causes movement of the tong assembly T toward or away from the back-up tong B.

In order that the slide 8 and the tong assembly T will move vertically without substantial tilting, the cables 5 and 9 extend downwardly into post 4 and are connected to an eye 48 provided at the upper end of the rod 49 forming part of a fluid pressure operated cylinder assembly generally denoted at 7 which provides means for pulling downwardly upon the ends of the cables 5 and 9, whereby to simultaneously lift the slide 8 and the body of the tong assembly T. As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 10, the fluid pressure operated cylinder assembly includes an elongated tubular body 51 in which is reciprocably disposed a piston 52, the inner end of the rod 49 being connected to the piston 52. A fluid inlet fitting 53 is provided for admitting pressure fluid into the body 51 above the piston 52, the fitting 53 being connected by conduit 54 which is, in turn, connected to an inlet fitting 55 adjacent the lower end of the post 4, the conduit 54 extending upwardly through the annular clearance defined between the post 4 and the body 51 of actuator cylinder 7. Operating fluid from a suitable source (not shown) may be provided from a remote location, so that fluid pressure forcing the piston 52 downwardly will move the rod 49 downwardly in the relatively stationary body 51, thereby pulling the cables 5 and 9 downwardly in the post 4, elevating the tong assembly T and the slide 8.

At its lower end, the body 51 is provided with an end section 56 which is connected within the base 16 of the substructure previously described, as best illustrated in FIG. 10. The lower end section 56 of the actuator body 51 is provided with a knob-like portion 57 adapted to be engaged by a pair of retainers 58 to prevent upward movement of the actuator body 51, while allowing slight angular cocking of the body 51 relative to a vertical position. The retainers 58 are substantially semi-circular parts each having an upper flange 59 extended inwardly in opposing relation within a channel 60 formed in the end section 56 of the actuator body 51 and defining a reduced stem 61. For purposes of assembly, a resilient band 62 is provided for initially holding the retainers 58 in assembly with the knob-like end 57 when the actuator body is downwardly displaced from the base 16. Thereafter, the body 51 may be moved upwardly so that the retainers 58 are disposed in a bore 63 provided ina base support 64 which is welded or otherwise connected to the lower end of the post 4, this base support 64 having a cylindrical section 65 seating within the substructure base support 16. Suitable fasteners 66 may be provided for securing the retainers 58 in the bore 63, so as to support the actuator assembly 7 against downward movement in the post 4 until the tong assembly T and the slide 8 are connected to the cables 5 and 9, respectively, whereupon the entire weight of the assembly will act to pull upwardly upon the actuator cylinder 7 and the latter will be held against upward movement by engagement of the knob-like section 57 with the retainer flange 59. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the retainers 58 and the knob-like section 57 essentially constitute a swivel or ball-and-socket connection, whereby the actuator cylinder 7 may cock angularly within the post 4 into alignment with the line of force imposed thereon by the connected ends of the cables 5 and 9.

-In the operation of the crane structure, and in the use of the tong assembly, it will be now understood that the elevation of the tong assembly may be adjusted simply by supplying or exhausting pressure fluid, preferably hydraulic fluid, to or from the actuator cylinder above piston 52. When pipe, such as drill pipe, is being run into or pulled from a well bore, the elevation of the tong assembly will be adjusted each time a joint, composed of the tool joints 1 and 2, is made up or broken out. For example, when the joint is to be made up, a tool joint 1 of the pipe P1 will be stabbed into the tool joint 2 of the pipe P2, whereupon the tong assembly T will be operated to rotate the pipe P1 to establish the threaded joint, the back-up tong B being operated to hold the pipe P2 at least during the final stages of make up of the joint. Thereupon, both the back-up tong B and the power tong assembly T will be disengaged from the pipe and the entire assembly must be lowered to allow the hoist equipment in the derrick, by which the pipe P1 is suspended, to be lowered so as to lower the string of pipe into the well bore, the hoist equipment lowering the pipe string until the upper joint part of the pipe P1 is in the same relative position as the pipe P2 shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the pipe in the well here would be supported in the usual slips (not shown) and the hoist equipment would then be removed from the pipe and re-elevated. It is then necessary to raise the tong assembly to the same relative position as shown in FIG. 2, so that a new joint may be made up. It is also necessary that the tong assembly, including the back-up tong B, be shifted between a working position and a lower position when joints of pipe are being broken out.

In addition to the foregoing, when it is desired to perform other operations over the well bore, it is necessary that the tong assembly be swung off. Under these circumstances, it is necessary that the tong assembly be elevated so that the back-up tong B will clear the upper end of the pipe P2. Thereupon, the tong assembly may be swung in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, the post 4 under such circumstances turning within the socket 14. The latch member 22, accordingly, should be released from the notch 21 in flange 20 in which it is engaged during the normal working position of the tong assembly and, when the tong assembly is in the swung off position, the latch member 22 may re-engage in the other notch 21, or, alternatively, the clamp 25 may be operated as previously described to clamp the flange 20 in any desired angular disposition relative to the bushing 19.

While the specific details of an illustrative embodiment v of the invention have been herein shown and described, changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In tong apparatus for making up and breaking out joints of well pipe during running of said pipe into and pulling of said pipe from a well bore, including power tong means for rotating a pipe joint part relative to another joint part, and means for positioning said tong means in operative position for engagement with said pipe joints, the improvement wherein said positioning means comprises a crane structure including a boom, a'post supporting said boom with said boom projecting outwardly therefrom above said tong means, support means shiftably mounting said tong means on said post and on said boom for vertical and horizontal movements relative to said post, and operator means for raising and lowering said support means.

2. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a slide shiftably disposed on said post, and cable means depending from said boom and connected to said slide and to said tong means.

3. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a slide shiftably disposed on said post, a first cable depending from said post and connected at one end to said slide and extending upwardly therefrom, a second cable depending from said boom and connected at one end to said tong means, and said operator means comprises means connected to the other ends of said cables for simultaneously shifting said slide and said tong means.

4. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said operator means comprises a fluid pressure operated actuator having a movable member connected to both of said cables.

5. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said operator means comprises an elongated fluid pressure actuator disposed vertically in said post, said other ends of said cables extending into said post, and said actuator having a movable member connected to both of said cables for pulling said other ends of said cables downwardly and for allowing upward movement of said other ends of said cables to raise and lower said slide and said tong means.

6. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein means are provided for allowing horizontal movement of said tong means.

7. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means for supporting said post for angular movement about its axis to allow horizontal swinging movements of said tong means.

8. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 1, including means for supporting said post for angular movement about its axis to allow horizontal swinging movements of said tong means, and means for holding said post in selected positions of angular adjustment.

9. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said holding means comprises detent means for holding said post in a first position at which said tong means is disposed above said well bore for making up and breaking out said joints and a second position at which said tong means is swung off to an out of the way location.

10. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said holding means includes brake means for holding said post in any selected angular position.

11. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting means includes a socket revolvably supporting said post, a bushing in which said post is revolvable, and a plate carried by said post and resting on said bushing.

12. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 11, including 7 latch means for holding said post in selected angular positions within said socket.

13. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a slide shiftably disposed on said post, cable means connected to said slide and to said tong means, and said operator means being operatively connected to said cable means to simultaneously raise and lower said slide and said tong means relative to said post.

14. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said slide and said post have coengaged rollers and rollerengaging members for supporting said slide on said post while preventing cocking of said slide relative to said post.

15. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a slide shiftably disposed on said post and said tong means includes a tong head section and a power transmission section, and including means interconnecting said power transmission section at a location remote from said head section to said slide.

16. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a slide shiftably disposed on said post, a first cable connected at one end to said slide and extending upwardly therefrom, a second cable depending from said boom and connected at one end to said tong means, the other ends of said cables extending downwardly into said post, and said operator means includes pressure operated actuator cylinder means disposed in said post and including a movable member connected to said other ends of said cables and a stationary member anchored in said post.

17. Tong apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a slide shiftably disposed on said post, a first cable connected at one end to said slide and extending upwardly therefrom, a second cable depending from said boom and connected at one end to said tong means, the other ends of said cables extending downwardly into said post, and said operator means includes pressure operated actuator cylinder means disposed in said post and including a movable member connected to said other ends of said cables and a stationary member, and means anchoring said stationary member in said post enabling alignment of said actuator cylinder with the line of force extended between said other ends of said cables.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,478,020 12/ 1923 Butler 8157 1,617,509 2/1927 Thrift 8157 2,450,103 9/ 1948 Austin 81-54 2,668,689 2/ 1954 Cormany 8157 2,871,743 2/ 1959 Kelley 8153 2,969,702 1/1961 Cornish et al. 8 1-5 3 3,025,733 3/ 1962 Soodnizin 8153 JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 8157.4 

